Folding crate.



1.1. I- UUA| FGLDING' SKATE.

A'EPLIOATION TILED JAN. 2.7 1908.

Patalted Mar. 30, 1909.

2 sums-sum 1.

Attarne g L. P. 00X.

' 'POLDING GRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.Z7, 1908.

Patented Mar. 30; 1909.-

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LAWRENCE P. COX, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

FOLDING CRATE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 30, 1909.

Application filed. January 27, 1908. Serial N 0. 412,908.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE P. Cox, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Wayne, R. F. D. it2,in the county of Allen and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingCrates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to crates, and more particularly to collapsiblecrates, and has for its object to provide a crate of this characterwhich may be conveniently folded when not in use and which will bestrong and durable when set up for shipment.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, and it will be understood that changes in the specificstructure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claimwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present crate, Fig. 2 is ahorizontal sectional view of the crate in its folded position, Fig. 3 isa horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is atransverse sectional view.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a cratehaving side walls 11 and 12 respectively, end walls 13 and 14respectively, a bottom 15, and a top or lid 16.

The side wall 11 at each end is provided with an offset portion 17directed toward the center of the crate, as shown. The side wall 11 ishingedly connected to the top or lid 16 as shown at 18, and this lid isthus arranged to lie at times against the outer side of the side 11 andin parallel relation thereto.

The ends 13 and 14 each consist of members 19 and 20 respectivelyhingedly connected with each other as shown at 21. The sections 19 arehingedly connected to the offset portions 17 as shown at 22, and thesection 20 is hingedly connected to the front wall 12 as shown at 23.

The bottom is hingedly connected as shown at 24 to the wall 11 at thebottom thereof, as shown. The wall 12 at its lower edge is provided withan inwardly extending and longitudinally disposed cleat 25, and thiscleat is thus arranged to support the bottom 15 when the crate is in anunfolded position.

Secured to the offset portions 17, there are shown flexible strips ofmetal 26, and these strips are bent at their ends as shown at 27 and arethus arranged to engage the walls of the crate when the same is in afolded position whereby the walls of the crate are securely held intheir closed position.

The lid 16 is preferably provided with a latch 28 arranged forcoengagement with a receiving member 29.

l/Vhen it is desired to fold the crate, the lid 16 is swung to the backand in a position parallel to the side 11, and the bottom 15 isafterward folded in a like manner to lie against the inner side of theside 11, and between the oflset portions 17. The sections 19 and arethen shoved inwardly to lie upon each other, and in this operation thefront wall 12 will also be moved inwardly to lie with its ends outwardlyof the adjoining portions 17, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thestrips 26 are then bent as previously described and the crate is thusfolded and held in a compact manner.

From the construction described it will be apparent that a simple andinexpensive crate is provided which will be strong and durable, andwhich may be folded in such a manner that large quantities of suchcrates may be handled with little difficulty.

While it is desirable to construct these crates from longitudinallyextending and spaced staves, it will be understood that a crate of thischaracter may be constructed from solid material.

It is desirable to cover all hinges projecting within the crate withsmall pieces of canvas or the like 30 and thereby prevent injury tofruit within the crate which may come in contact with such hinges.

What is claimed is:

In a folding crate, the combination of a back, a bottom hingedlyconnected to the lower edge of said back adapted at times to be foldedinwardly against said back, a cover hingedly disposed upon the upperextremity of said back adapted to be folded backwardly against the rearface of said back at times, ends hingedly disposed upon. the oppositeends of said back, each of said ends comprising two sections hingedlyconnected to each other adapted to fold inwardly of said crate, a fronthingedly connected to the opposite ends of said ends of said crate,clasps secured upon the opposite extremities of said back, fingersinwardly disposed from the forward extremities of said elasps forengagement about the 0p osite ends of said front and inwardly turnedngers carried upon the rear extremities of said 5 clasps for engagementabout the opposite extremities of said cover When in a folded position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, 1n presence oi two Witnesses.

LAWRENCE P. COX.

\Vitnesses JAMES M. ROBINSON, MARTIN H. LUEOKE.

